13 - 04 - 2017 Sotheby’s May Auction to be Led by Exqusite Earrings with ‘The Apollo & Artemis Diamonds’

Sotheby’s spring sale of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels that will take place on May 16 at Geneva will be led by a pair of earrings studded with two exceptional fancy coloured diamonds – the ‘Apollo and Artemis Diamonds’. Sotheby’s has described the pair as “the most valuable earrings ever to appear at an auction”.

The auction house is offering them as separate individual lots, with ‘The Apollo Blue’ having an estimated price of $38 – 50 million and ‘The Artemis Pink’ an estimated price of $12.5 – 18 million.

The Apollo Blue is a Fancy Vivid Blue Type IIb diamond weighing 14.54 carats, graded by GIA. It is the largest Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever to be offered at auction and has been cut and polished into an unmodified pear-shape.

The Artemis Pink is a Fancy Intense Pink Type II a diamond weighing 16 carats, also graded by GIA. It has a VVS2 clarity grade and is also cut and polished into a pear shape.

Speaking ahead of the sale, David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, said, “’The Apollo and Artemis Diamonds’ will be the stars of our May sale in Geneva – by far the most important pair of earrings ever offered at auction. These exquisite coloured diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right. Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking. We have named them after Apollo and Artemis, a twin brother and sister of great power and beauty who were among the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. These are diamonds of great distinction, with extraordinary presence, and we are honoured that Sotheby’s has been chosen to bring them to auction in May.”